Hermetic control device for a watchmaker&#39;s movement in a casing



June 25, 1968 R. WYSSEN 3,389,551

HERMETIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WATCHMAKERS MOVEMENT IN A CASING G. INGRAM 3,389,551

HILRMEIJC CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WATCHMAKERS MOVEMENT TN A CASING June 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Shem Filed Dec. 16, 1966 United States Patent HERMETIC CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WATCH- MAKERS MOVEMENT IN A CASING Rodolphe Wyssen, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique de Couronnes Boninchi S.A., Geneva, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,240 Claims priority, application Switzerland, June 14, 1966, 8,57 66 4 Claims. (Cl. 5890) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece in which a hollow crown has a socket axially slidable therein coupled by axial splines to the crown for rotation therewith upon actuation of the crown. A pendant is disposed in the socket and a stem holder is disposed internally of the socket and coupled thereto for rotation therewith. Waterproof packing is disposed circumferentially of the stem holder made of compressible rings or sleeve seals that cause the crown to be biased to a position decoupled from said pendant. The crown is operable axially relative to the pendant and socket for coupling or decoupling the crown for making time settings on and winding a timepiece when in use.

This invention relates generally to winding mechanisms for timepieces and more particularly to a waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece.

Watch winding mechanisms are known in which waterproof joints or seals positioned between the stern holder and a rewinding crown are employed. These seals permit relative movement between the members and insure a waterproof seal. Moreover the seals themselves sometimes carry out connection between the members and are therefore subjected to stresses and frictional wear reducing their efficiency and life. It has been suggested to exert axial pressure on the seals by means of the crown during locking of the crown on a pendant. The pressure is relaxed only during the unlocking of the crown by the action of the mechanism. These known mechanisms require intermediate springs in order to permit locking of the crown and pendant and release thereof.

It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece using two waterproof seals.

The winding comprises a hollow crown in which is disposed a socket axially movable relative to the crown and internally of which is disposed a pendant with a stem holder coaxial therewith. The stem holder is coupled with the socket for rotation therewith. A spline-groove arrangement between the socket and crown permits the crown to be selectively coupled and decoupled to the socket for rotation thereof. A bayonet coupling device is provided for coupling the pendant and the crown by axially displacing the crown. The coupling and decoupling arrangements permit coupling of the pendant and the stem holder independent of each other to the crown. Seals which are compressible between the pendant, the stem holder and the socket axially bias the socket and therefore the crown axially apart from the pendant so that decoupling between the crown and the pendant can be carried out by allowing the seal to be decompressed.

Other features and advantages of the waterproof winding assembly for time-pieces in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specification and appended claims, in conjunction with the following drawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are axial elevation section views of 3,389,551 Patented June 25, 1968 a first embodiment of a winding assembly in accordance with the invention and illustrate three dilferent operative positions thereof; and

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are axial elevation section views of a second embodiment of a waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece in accordance with the invention and illustrate the apparatus in different operational positions.

The waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece in accordance with the drawings comprises a crown 1 which is hollow and internally of which is disposed a pendant 2 extending axially inwardly and outwardly thereof. A bayonet coupling and decoupling device 3, 4 as provided for coupling the crown and pendant 2 when the crown is moved axially into the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Internally of the crown is provided a recess 5 and grooves 6 adapted to cooperate with splines 7 of a socket 8 circumferentially about an inner part of the pendant 2. The spline arrangement permits coupling and decoupling of the socket and crown upon axial displacement of the crown to a position illustrated in FIG. 3.

The socket 8 is coupled to a stem holder 9 internally and coaxial with the pendant. Connection is established through an opening in the socket in which is received a square extension 10 of the stem holder forming a positive connection to the socket. A screw 11 is mounted on an extension 10. A certain amount of axial relative movement is permitted between the socket and the stem holder because of the screw 11 and its clearance with the socket S.

Waterproofness of the assembly is shared by two compressible packings or seals 12, 13 disposed circumferentially of the stem holder and internally of the pendant. The pendant is provided with an axial circular groove 14 housing the seals 12, 13. The pendant comprises a peripheral shoulder 9a extending radially inwardly and separating the two seals from an additional ring seal 15 disposed between the socket and the stem holder and hearing on the peripheral shoulder 9a of the pendants as illustrated.

A peripheral packing ring 16 is carried in a recess 17 of the socket and blocks oif the ends of the grooves formed between the splines 7 on the socket. The various seals are compressible and permit relative axial and rotational movement between the various members as later described.

In FIG. 1 the crown is illustrated as displaced axially intoa position in which the crown is uncoupled from the socket and is connected or coupled to the pendant 2. In this instant the various seals are in a compressed condition. The seals compress sufficiently to allow the locking device 3, 4 to operate and insure a very effective complementary waterproofness so that the assembly is in a water-tight condition. In the position illustrated in FIG. 1

the spline arrangement between the socket and groove is in a decoupled condition and therefore the crown is free to rotate the pendant without driving the stem holder 9. The pendant 2 has a ring 23 with ears 23a: on which the bayonet 3 comes to bear when the bayonet-type locking device 3, 4 is locked.

can then rotate the socket 8 independent of the pendant.

In the event that the decompression of the seals does not sufficiently engage the locking elements 3, 4 the crown can be displaced to the position shown in FIG. 2 manually.

In order to set the assembly in a setting position, FIG. 3, the crown 1 is pulled axially so that the spline 6 thereagainst ring 16 drives the socket axially apart from the pendant while the seal 15 maintains an effective joint with the stem holder 9 which extends axially into the pendant as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus it can be seen that the seal or joint 15 performs several functions previously performed in known devices by other members.

A second embodiment of the assembly in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 inclusive. Similar reference numerals are employed in the drawings of the second embodiment similar to those of the first described embodiment in order to maintain ease of understanding the embodiment.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that splines 18 of a crown 1 and splines 19 of a socket 20 are permanently enmeshed. The opening of a bayonet closure 3-4 is effected by rotation of the crown in a direction opposite to that of a rewinding direction. Moreover the construction is simplified by absence of a seal equivalent to the ring 16.

In the second embodiment the seals 13 and 15 of the first embodiment are replaced by a seal 21 made as a cylindrical sleeve projecting from an upper edge 22a of a pendant 22 in such a way as to be compressed and deformed by pressure applied by the socket 20 when in the position shown in FIG. 4 in which the crown and pendant are locked together.

The second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. in a rewinding position effected similarly to the operation of the first embodiment. In the setting position illustrated in FIG. 6 the crown has been moved axially manually to the position illustrated and in which it drives the socket 20 through a ring 3, of the locking device 3, 4, which comes to bear against the splines 19 when the crown is as illustrated. In this embodiment a sleeve seal 21 also effects or carries out several functions in a manner analogous to seal 15 and seal 13 of the first embodiment.

The apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the two embodiments shown and described and is applicable to electronic timepieces. The intermediate rewinding position in such a case is eliminated or replaced by another position, for example a gate setting position.

What is claimed is:

1. A waterproof winding assembly for a timepiece having a casing, said assembly comprising, a hollow crown having internal grooves, a pendant member fitting in said crown, a stem holder disposed extending axially in said pendant member, a socket receiving said pendant and said stem holder for rotation with said stem holder, said stem holder being axially slidable in said socket, said socket being axially slidable in said crown and having peripheral splines cooperative with said grooves in said crown to allow axial movement relative to said crown and for rotation thereof by said crown, means for placing said crown in a locked position and an unlocked position relative to said pendant member, a compressible waterproof packing disposed around said stem holder in contact with said socket, and said waterproof packing comprising compressible means eifective when decompressed to move said crown axially relative to said pendant for decoupling said crown from said pendant so that said crown is freely rotatably relative to said pendant.

2. A waterproof winding assembly according to claim 1, in which said packing comprises a compressible sleeve around said stem holder.

3. A waterproof winding assembly according to claim 1, including means defining an additional waterproof packing around said stem holder.

4. A waterproof Winding assembly according to claim 1, in which said pendant has a peripheral shoulder disposed between the first-mentioned packing and said additional waterproof packing.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 488,058 6/1938 Great Britain.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. M. LORCH, Assistant Examiner. 

